How the Squirrel Got Its Stripes
If you’ve ever wondered how the squirrel got its stripes, you’re not alone. Chipmunks and squirrels have stripes for several reasons. It may have been to protect them from blood sucking insects, but it’s also possible that they evolved the stripes for protection against the Bears that once savaged them. Today, chipmunks and squirrels still proudly display their stripes. Here are some interesting facts about squirrels and their stripes.
Table of Contents
Rama’s affection for a squirrel
According to myth, Lord Rama’s affection for a squirrel was expressed through its stripes. He stroked the squirrel’s back and his touch left a mark that was later recognized as three distinct stripes. The markings were symbols of Rama’s affection and devotion towards the squirrel. The squirrel was subsequently considered satvik. However, many myths have differing versions of the story.
The squirrel in the story is an Indian palm squirrel. It has a long tail and a distinctive three white stripes on its back. In ancient India, squirrels were considered sacred. According to the story, Rama stroked the squirrel’s back and left three prominent white stripes on its back. The Indian palm squirrel has a long tail and three stripes. F. pennantii, however, has two extra pale stripes on its sides.
According to the legend, a brown squirrel was playing in the sand when a great monkey came to collect a large stone. The small squirrel was in the way of the stone, refusing to move. The great monkey grabbed the squirrel by its tail and threw it far away. The squirrel was horrified, but Rama was able to comfort the little squirrel by holding it close.
Lord Rama’s finger marks on a squirrel’s back
It is believed that a monkey once carried a squirrel, which Lord Rama stroked on its back. The squirrel kept the marks on its back, which symbolized the loving care and affection that the lord had for the creature. A squirrel’s white stripes on its back were the marks left by Lord Rama’s fingers. Throughout the years, people have told the story of Lord Rama’s touch with a squirrel.
This squirrel’s story is one of the most famous in the Ramayana, and one of the many that try to explain the logic behind squirrel stripes. The story stresses the importance of hard work, dignity of labor, and the importance of teamwork, no matter how small it may be. And, in an age of globalization, the story of the monkey and the squirrel reminds us that we need each other, not just the strongest of us.
Chipmunks’ stripes evolved to protect them from blood sucking insects
Chipmunks are small members of the squirrel family with pudgy cheeks and large glossy eyes. They have stripes on their back, face, and tails. They range from Canada to Mexico, and all but one species live in North America. Chipmunks live in burrows; some build nests. Others make their homes in bushes and trees. While they do not like to be observed, chipmunks are considered a pest in the cities and suburbs.
The origins of blood-sucking behavior are unclear, but there are two main hypotheses. One hypothesis is that insects have always sought blood in order to survive. The other is that these creatures developed stripes to protect themselves from predators. Either way, this behavior is detrimental to their health. However, many insects have evolved this behavior independently over the planet’s history. Insects that feed on human blood have no known common ancestor.
Bears chased the squirrel
The story of the bear chasing the squirrel to get stripes has been around for many years, but little is known about the genesis of the squirrel’s distinctive patterns. Some say that this tale is as old as human civilization, while others argue that it’s just a story that humans made up to make themselves look more appealing. It’s possible that the squirrel got its stripes through a series of events, such as a predator chasing the squirrel away from its food source. Regardless of the cause, the result has been successful – bears continue to chase the squirrel until it gets stripes!
The squirrel had three stripes, but the bears and monkeys had spotted it and decided to mock it. The bears also joined in the teasing, and were able to chase the squirrel. The story continues on in Chapter Seven, as the bears chased the squirrel to get stripes. The story ends on a sad note. The bears eventually tattled on the squirrel, and the monkeys laughed.
How did the squirrel get its stripes?
Answer 1: A long time ago all squirrels were the same color.
One day a group of squirrels was playing together near a river.
One of the squirrels accidentally fell into the river and was swept away by the current.
Fortunately the squirrel was able to grab onto a branch and pull itself to safety.
When it climbed back onto the bank the squirrel noticed that its fur had changed colors.
The other squirrels were so surprised that they all wanted their fur to change colors too.
So they all jumped into the river and came out with their fur dyed in stripes.
What does the squirrel use its tail for?
Answer 2: The squirrel uses its tail for balance as a parachute when jumping from high places and to signal other squirrels when danger is near.
What kind of food do squirrels eat?
Answer 3: Squirrels are mainly herbivorous animals but they will also eat insects small reptiles and bird eggs.
Their diet consists mostly of nuts seeds fruits and fungi.
Do all squirrels hibernate?
Answer 4: No not all squirrels hibernate.
Hibernation is mainly used as a strategy to survive periods of food scarcity so squirrels living in areas with a consistent food supply throughout the year generally do not hibernate.
What is the average lifespan of a squirrel?
Answer 5: The average lifespan of a squirrel is about 6-10 years but some squirrels have been known to live up to 20 years in captivity.
How many different species of squirrel are there?
Answer 6: There are more than 200 different species of squirrel.
What is the smallest type of squirrel?
Answer 7: The smallest type of squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel which averaged around 5-6 inches in length and 2 ounces in weight.
What is the largest type of squirrel?
Answer 8: The largest type of squirrel is the Indian giant squirrel which can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh up to 10 pounds.
How do squirrels mate?
Answer 9: Squirrels mate either through promiscuous mating where the males compete for the attention of the females or through mate guarding where the males chase away other potential mates from the females.
How many offspring does a squirrel have at a time?
Answer 10: A typical litter size for a squirrel is 2-5 offspring but larger litters of up to 8 have been recorded.
How long does it take for a squirrel to reach sexual maturity?
Answer 11: Depending on the species it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years for a squirrel to reach sexual maturity.
How do squirrels communicate?
Answer 12: Squirrels communicate through a variety of means including visual signals vocalizations and scent marking.
What predators do squirrels have to worry about?
Answer 13: The main predators of squirrels are birds of prey such as hawks and owls snakes and some mammals such as foxes and coyotes.
What do baby squirrels look like?
Answer 14: Baby squirrels or kittens are born hairless and blind.
They typically weigh around 1 ounce and are about 4 inches long.
What is the difference between a ground squirrel and a tree squirrel?
Answer 15: The main difference between a ground squirrel and a tree squirrel is that ground squirrels live in burrows in the ground while tree squirrels live in trees.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
